Electrical connector assembly

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector assembly comprises a first hollow insulating housing having an aperture which provides access to the hollow interior for a second insulating housing carrying a plurality of aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts which engage aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts in the hollow interior. The contacts of the second housing are guided between the contacts of the first housing, a cam surface on the second housing cooperates with a cam surface on the first housing so that when the second housing reaches a predetermined position within the interior of the first housing, the contacts of the second housing are aligned with the contacts of the first housing and the surfaces of the first and second housings cooperate so that on further axial movement of the second housing the contacts engage.

nit States atet 1 1 Judg e et al. 339/75 M Teagno Mar. 4, 1975 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY Primary E.\'am1'nerJoseph H. McGlynn In .aemo- WIad-mi T a 0, T It I Attorney, Agent, or FirmWilliam J. Keating; Jay L.

I r I m e gn urm a y Seitchik; Frederick W. Raring [731' Asslgnee: AMP Incorporated, Eisenhower Blvd., Harrisburg, Pa.

v [57] ABSTRACT [22-] Filed: Mar. 18, 1974 1 An electrical connector assembly comprises a first Appl- 1034529093 hollow insulating housing having an aperture which 7 provides access to the hollow interior for a second in- [30] Foreign-Application priority Data sulatirciig llioutsinglcar'rytingt a pllurallity of aligllted rgws of space e ec rica con ac s w 1c engage a igne rows I973 22340/73 of spaced electrical contacts in the hollow interior. 52 11.5. 339/65, 339/75 M, 339/176 M The cofitacts of i g l are [.51 1111.01 H011 13/62 tweehnt e g f t 8 l a Surface [58] Field of Search 339/17, 18, 64-66, Yusmg g j Y a g {we 1 339/75 176 on t e irst ousmg so t at w en t e secon ousmg reaches a predetermmed position w1th1n the 1nter1or 0t the first housing, the contacts of the second housing [56] References Cited are aligned with the contacts of the first housing and UNITED STATES PATENTS the surfaces of the first and second housings cooperate 2,817,824 12/1957 Albright 33 8 R so that on further axial movement of the second hous- FlllCh t t r B the ontacts engage $676,832 7/1972 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 41975 SHEET 1 or Z:

3m ur 4 O O O O O O O O O O 0 OOO0\- OVOOO00O O O O O O O PATENTEDHAR 41975 PATENTEBHAR 4l975 SHEET u o 4 NNM ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to electrical connector assemblies.

According to the present invention, an electrical connector. assembly comprising a first hollow insulating housing having an aperture which provides access to the hollow interior for a second insulating housing carrying a plurality of aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts which engage aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts in the hollow interior. the rows of contacts extending at rightangles to the axial direction of movement of the second housing within the interior of the first housing on engagement and disengagement of the housings, surfaces on the first and second housing co operating so that on initial axial movement of the second housing within the interior of the first housing on assembly of the housings, the contacts of the second housing are guided between the contacts of the first housinga cam surface on the second housing cooperating with a cam surface on the first housing so that when the second housing reaches a predetermined position within the interior ofthe first housing.the second housing moves laterally relative to the first housing to align the contacts of the housings and further surfaces on the first and second housings cooperating so that on further axial movement of the second housing within the-interior of the first housing, the contacts engage.

In a preferred embodiment, the further axial move ment of the second housing effected by a member hav-' ing an open-ended slot and rotatably mounted ou the first housing. which slot in a first position of the mem ber receives a peg rigidly mounted on the second housing. rotation of the member towards a second position causing the peg to transmit the further axial movement to the second housing.

The aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts in the hollow interior of the first housing may extend from one or more further housings releasably connectible to the first housing, through apertures in the first housing and communicating with the hollow interior.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, reference being made to the Figures ofthe accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective partly'exploded view of an electrical connector assembly;

' FIG. 2 'is a cross-section taken longitudinally of the electrical connector assembly;

FIG. 3 is a detail in plan view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4 to7 are schematic plan views illustrating the various relative positions of the first and second housings of the electrical connector assembly during engagement and disengagement of the housings.

As shown. an electrical "connector assembly 1 includes a first hollow insulating housing 2 and a mating second insulating housing 4.

- Housing 2 has an aperture 6 at its forward end 8 providing access to the hollow interior of the housing and an opposite rear end closed by a cap 12. On its outer major (upper and lower as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2) surfaces 14, 16 there are formed a plurality of elongate openings 20 extending transversely across the surfaces. Walls extend outwardly from the surfaces l4, l6 and around each opening 20 to define hoods 18. The open ings 20 each communicate with the interior of the housing 2. i

A flange 22 is provided generally midway between the ends 8, l0 and has a pair of holes 24 for receiving fasteners 26 for mounting the housing 2 to a support panel 27. j

At its forward end 8 on the surface 14, a boss 28 is positioned in which a member 30 is rotatably mounted. The member 30 has radially extending protrusions 36 which engage in recesses 38 in the boss 28 for-limiting the rotational movement of the member 30. The member 30 has on its upper surface as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 a hexagonal hole 32 for receiving a hexagonal key for rotating the member 30. At its lower surface, the member 30 has an open-ended slot 34 having two side walls 35, 37. A channel is'formed on an inside surface of the boss. The member 30 is rotatable from a first position at which the open end of the slot 34 is in alignment with an end of the channel 40 (see FIG. 4) and a second position in which the open end of the slot 34 faces generally towards the rear end 10 of the housing 2 (see FIG. 7). V

In an interior side surface 42 of the housing 2 there is formed a longitudinally extending groove 41 having a relatively deep part 43 adjacent the forward end 8 and a relatively shallow part 44. The transition between the parts 43, 44 is formed by a ramp 45 having a cam surface 46. The part 44 also has a cam surface 47 at its end nearestthe end 10.

On the opposite interior side surface 52 of the housing 2 there is a longitudinally extending groove 5l which adjacent the rear end 10 of the housing 2 merges into a relatively thin wall part 54 having a surface 55. The groove at its forward and rear ends has cam sur faces 57 and 58.

A plurality of housings 60 are releasably connected to the housing 2. Each housing 60 has a plurality of female receptacle contacts 62.which extend outwardly from a mating surface ofthe housing 60. Each housing 60 extends into a hood 18, the female receptacle contacts 62 extending through the opening 20 into the interior of the housing 2. As shown in FlG S. 1 and 2, the contacts 62 are spaced apart in parallel rows at right angles to the longitudinal axis ofthe housing 2 from upper and lower surfaces of the housing. Each contact 62 terminates a conductor of a flat flexible cable 64.

The housing is generally flat having upper and,

7 lower surfaces 100, l02,forward and rear ends 70 and 72 and side edges 74, 76. A flange 78 is provided at the rear end 72 and adjacent the flange 78 on the upper surface 100 is a peg 80 dimensioned to enter the channel 40 of the housing 2.

On the side 74 there is a rib 82 having a deep part 83 and a relatively shallow part 84. the transition between the parts 83, 84 being in the form of a ramp 85 having a cam surface 86. The forward end of the 84'als'ohas a cam surface 87.

On the opposite side edge 76 there is a rib having a surface 92 which at its forward end, is coplanar with a surface 94. At its rear end the rib 90 has a cam surface 95. i

The side edge 76 adjacent the surface 94 is inclined to form cam surface 96.

.The housing 4 carries male tab contacts 104 which extend from the upper and lower surfaces 100. 102. The contacts are spaced apart and extend in rows transversely across the surfaces 100, 102. Y

shallow part the member is rotated to its first position with the open end of the slot 34 in general alignment with an end of the channel 40 (See FIG.- 4). The forward end 70 of the housing 4 is then received in theaperture 6 and the housing 4 is pushed into the interior of the housing 2 via the aperture 6. Initially, as shown in FIG. 4, the part 84 of rib 82 engages in the shallow part 44 of the groove 41 and the rib 90 engages with the interior side surface 52. When the housings 2 and 4 are in these relative positions and the housing 4 is pushed inwardly of the housing 2, the contacts 104 on the housing part 4 pass between the contacts 62 of the housing part 2.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in this position the cam surfaces 46, 86; .47, 87 are in engagement and the peg is at the threshold of the open end of the slot 34. Further axial movement of the housing 4 causes lateral movement of the housing 4 relative to housing 2 so that it takes up the position shown in FIG. 6 with the rib 90 engaging in the groove 51 and the peg 80 within the side walls 35, 37 of the slot 34. This'has the effect of aligning the contacts 104 with the contacts 62 so that further axial movement will cause mating of the contacts as shown in FIG. 7 The further axialmovement is provided by the member 30 which is rotated to its second position and causes axial movement of the peg 80. This axial movement of the peg 80 is transmitted to the housing 4 and the contacts 104 are each forced into mating engagement with a corresponding contact 62. The presence of a member 30 which is rotatable by a key to initiate the final movement of the housing 4 is desirable since a large number of female receptacle contacts 62 can provide a large force which resists engagement by the contacts 104. This large force is overcome by the use of a suitable key.

When it is desired to disengage the housing 2, 4 the member 30 is rotated back to its first position and the contacts 104 are disengaged from their respective contacts 62. At this stage, the contacts 104 are still, in alignment with the contacts 62 (see FIG. 6).

The flange 78 is then pulled so that the cam surfaces 57 and 58 engage cam surfaces 95,. 96 thereby moving the housing 4 laterally relative to the housing 2 to the position of FIG. 5. Further axial pull on the flange 78 causes the housing 4 to be withdrawn from the interior of housing '2. the contacts 104 being guided between adjacent contacts 62.

It is apparent that a housing 60 can be disengaged from the housing 2 without disturbing the electrical connection of the contacts 62 and the contacts 100 of other housings 60.'Further, the housing-4 can be withdrawn from the interior'of housing 2 without disturbing the connection of a housing'60 in the housing 2.

The above described electrical connector assembly is particularly useful in motor vehicles in which the assembly can be mounted to the panel 27 which forms a bulkhead between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrical connector assembly 1, when mounted on the support panel 27, extends generally at right-angles to the panel 27. However, when it is advantageous to save space, the flange 22 can be joined to the housing 2 so that it extends at an acute angle to the surfaces 14, 16. This, in effect, reduces the dimension between each endof the electrical connector assembly 1 and the respective surface of the panel 27 since the electrical connector assembly 1 will extend from each side of the panel 27 at an angle other than a right-angle.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising a first hollow insulating housing having an aperture which provides access to the hollow interior for a second insulating housing carrying a plurality of aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts which engage aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts in the hollow interior, the rows of contacts extending at right angles to the axial direction of movement of the second housing within the interior of the first housing on engagement and disengagement of v the housings, surface means on the first and second housings cooperating so that on initial axial movement of the second housing within the interior of the first housing on assembly of the housings, the contacts of the second housing are guided between the contacts ofthe first housing, a cam surface means on the second housing cooperating with a cam surface means on the first housing so that when the second housing reaches a predeterminedposition within the interiorof the first housing, the second housing moves laterally relative to the first housing to align the contacts of the housings and further surface means on the first and second housings cooperating so that on further axial movement of the second housing within the interior of the first housing, the contacts engage.

2. An electrical connector assembly. as claimed in claim 1, in which the further axial movement ofthe second housing is effected by a member having an openended slot and rotatably mounted on the first housing, which slot in a first position ofa member receives a peg rigidly mounted on the second housing, rotation of the member towards a second position causing the peg to transmit the further axial movement to the second housing.

3. An-electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts in the hollow interior of the first housing extend from one or more further housings releasably con nectible to the first housing. through apertures in the first housing and communicating with the hollow interior.

4. An electrical connector assembly asclaimed in claim 1 in which the first housing has an external flange for mounting said first housing to a support panel.

S. An electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which the flange isjoined to the first housing at an angle other than a right'angle. 

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising a first hollow insulating housing having an aperture which provides access to the hollow interior for a second insulating housing carrying a plurality of aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts which engage aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts in the hollow interior, the rows of contacts extending at right angles to the axial direction of movement of the second housing within the inTerior of the first housing on engagement and disengagement of the housings, surface means on the first and second housings cooperating so that on initial axial movement of the second housing within the interior of the first housing on assembly of the housings, the contacts of the second housing are guided between the contacts of the first housing, a cam surface means on the second housing cooperating with a cam surface means on the first housing so that when the second housing reaches a predetermined position within the interior of the first housing, the second housing moves laterally relative to the first housing to align the contacts of the housings and further surface means on the first and second housings cooperating so that on further axial movement of the second housing within the interior of the first housing, the contacts engage.
 2. An electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the further axial movement of the second housing is effected by a member having an open-ended slot and rotatably mounted on the first housing, which slot in a first position of a member receives a peg rigidly mounted on the second housing, rotation of the member towards a second position causing the peg to transmit the further axial movement to the second housing.
 3. An electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the aligned rows of spaced electrical contacts in the hollow interior of the first housing extend from one or more further housings releasably connectible to the first housing, through apertures in the first housing and communicating with the hollow interior.
 4. An electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the first housing has an external flange for mounting said first housing to a support panel.
 5. An electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which the flange is joined to the first housing at an angle other than a right-angle. 